“Goodnight, Mr. Reid.” Jamie smiled politely at him. “Have an excellent evening.” She left before he could reply and turned away to go to her apartment. It wasn’t until she got inside and locked the door that she started to cry.
Chapter 3
“How’s the new computer?” Alex asked her the next day, his tone having a certain hedge to it, like he didn’t want her to snap at him.
“It’s nice,” Jamie replied as she sat in his office going through the week’s schedule. She flipped the planner so it would sync up with his. They needed to keep things safe and distant, and she would prove to him that it was the best situation for both of them.
Alex sat behind his desk going over a folder in front of him. "We have a lot of things to go over before the meeting with the investors." He frowned and set a sheet of paper aside. "I need you to make sure everything’s in order so we can get the best deal. This is what’s going to get the investors sold on the project." He gestured to the files on his desk, which was supposed to be their chaperone. It was full of different sketches for a new computer software program that made improvements on current models of voice dictation programs.
There was a polite knock on the door that led to the lobby.
"Come in," Alex called out.
Gina came in, looking at the two of them cautiously. Jamie did her best to look calm, indifferent, and professional. Gina kept teasing Jamie that there was something going on between her and Alex. Over drinks the other night, she’d tried to convince Jamie that Alex wanted to sleep with her. Jamie had denied it all. It didn’t stop Gina from acting like she was going to catch them in the act. That was never going to happen.
Gina glanced at the two of them. "Mr. Reid, your three o'clock is here."
"Thank you, Ms. Campbell." He looked at Jamie, his own expression cool and indifferent. "Send those emails, Ms. Connors, and if any of these papers get damaged, heads will roll." He handed Jamie the stack of files. “Keep these in your office till the meeting with the investors.”
"Yes, Mr. Reid," Jamie said. "Would you like me to stay and take notes for the meeting now?"
"That won't be necessary." He waved his hand. "I expect you to convert everything I record into a word processor."
Jamie nodded and then smiled at Gina, who looked skeptical from the exchange between her and Alex. She breathed a sigh as she left Alex's office.
She sat back at her desk and took a couple of seconds to check her personal phone for any messages from Christine. With the wedding coming closer and closer, Christine was getting more and more high-strung and demanding. There were five text messages from her right now, and Jamie had only been in Alex's office for twenty minutes. At least, she thought it was twenty minutes. She was replying to the last one when a shadow fell across her desk.
"Excuse me, miss, is Alex Reid in?"
She slid her phone into her purse, embarrassed to feel like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t by checking her phone. She felt her mouth
drop when she saw a man who looked exactly like an older version of Alex smiling at her. She recognized Alex’s brother from the photo in Alex’s living room, even though he was a lot older now. What she couldn't understand was why he was here right now.
"Y-yes," she stammered. "He's in his office right now. Are you his three o’clock?"
No wonder Alex didn’t need her in the office for his meeting. She stood and came around the desk. “I’m Jamie Connors, Mr. Reid’s personal assistant.”
He shook her hand "I'm his brother, Mark."
Jamie nodded. "I know," she said. "I-I mean, the two of you look a lot alike. That's it. Um..." She glanced at the office door and then picked up the phone, ready to dial Alex's line. She put the phone down. "I’m surprised Gina didn’t walk you in from the lobby. I can let you in through here," she said. "It shouldn't be a problem."
Mark raised an eyebrow.
“Follow me.” Jamie knocked lightly on Alex’s door before opening it. She blinked in surprise when Mark pushed past her and stepped into Alex’s office before her.
“Alex!”
Jamie followed behind him, noticing an extremely attractive woman sitting on a seat in front of Alex’s desk. Personal three o’clock? Or was Mark his three o’clock?
Alex took one look at his brother and stopped talking. He glared at Mark and his hands balled into fists, crumpling a sheaf of papers in his hands. "What’re you doing here?" He scowled at Jamie. “Why’d you let him in?”
"Can we talk in private?" Mark asked.
"No," Alex stood, "because you're leaving. I really don't care why you're here. Just go."
"Alex!" Mark set his feet shoulder-width apart and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not leaving. I’m your brother. I have the right to talk to you."
"You don't," Alex said, his voice low and dangerous. "Get the hell out of here. Or I’ll call security."